Electric Smart ForTwos have been zipping around Europe for three years, longer than the gas-powered Smart's tough life on US shores.

The ForTwo Electric Drive I drove Wednesday at the Herb Chambers dealership in Somerville may stop that chatter. After two years of road testing in England and Germany, Smart will bring 250 of these second-generation EVs to the US this October as part of a special four-year lease. Production models won't go on sale until 2012.

The lime green and white car I drove was a European model, so I easily hit 80 up and down the McGrath Highway. Smart says it'll do 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. And it did, right as the Chevy HHR tore past me in the left lane. What good are kilometers if you can't use 'em?

Turns out maximum speed is 60 miles per hour, so forget about taking it on a real highway. The steering is also slow and vague, regenerative braking makes the pedal feel like mush, and acceleration is smooth but weak — all the hallmark dynamics of the second-generation Prius. A little more twist and control tweaks and it'll make the Nissan Leaf wilt.

But from block to block, the electric Smart dominates other EVs. Faint murmurs from the 30-kilowatt motor fade into the quiet cabin. It's a comfortable cruise, upset only by a few bumps the short wheelbase can't absorb. In return, you're awarded a tight 28.7-foot turning circle, which transforms K-turns into U-turns, illegal or otherwise.

Short of a diesel, electricity makes the most sense in a Smart. Even with a 16.5 kWh battery under the floor, total curb weight is a Lotus-beating 1,958 pounds. Cargo space and interior volume are unaffected. It uses regular 110-volt and 220-volt plugs, as opposed to a pricey proprietary charging system. This is a seamless conversion from the regular ForTwo.

If Smart gets the price below $28,000 without tax credits (the lease runs $31,500) to better compete with the $32,000 Leaf, they'll have a much easier time in this country.